Man Fatally Struck After Falling Into Street During Altercation in River North

A 32-year old man died Sunday after he fell into the street during an altercation and was struck and killed by a cab driver. At about 4:20 a.m., Marques Gaines was involved in an altercation near Hubbard and State in River North, according to the Chicago Police. After a man punched him in the head, he fell into the roadway.

Marques Gaines

The driver of a Ford taxi then ran over Gaines, police said. He was transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and was pronounced dead at 8:14 a.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

The cab driver stayed at the crash site and was not cited, police said. The person who punched Gaines fled the scene and has not been apprehended, according to police.

Although the medical examiner’s office reported Gaines’ residence as being on the 1400 block of West Chicago Avenue, friends told Loop North News he actually lived in Lakeview.

Friends also disputed the police department’s characterization of the altercation between Gaines, who worked at a nearby hotel, and the other man as a “fight.” They told the website it was more likely the victim “intervened on behalf of someone who was being treated unfairly but it led to tragedy.”

Should this be classified as a pedestrian death? That seems to diminish the fact that this sounds like murder.

johnaustingreenfield

The cab driver is not accused of intentionally striking the victim and it’s not clear whether the assailant intended for him to go into the street.

oldtoo

Just saw the video on the news tonight. Those guys that swooped in like vultures and took everything from this helpless human but his shoes and clothing reminded me of the TV shows of the scavengers cleaning the carcass of the lions kill. We are getting closer to that jungle survivor society.